Brazil vs Australia

“If we go to Brazil playing like that next year, we’ll get a Germany result,” John Kosmina said during Fox Sports’ post-match analysis.

Mark Bosnich added: “The way things were tonight, yes they’re a good side, but we made them look like the best in the world.”

Robbie Slater, in commentary, assessed: “"What can you take out of the performance, there's got be some sort of positive? No, there's nothing.”

While playing Brazil in Brasilia on their Independence Day is no friendly task, this morning’s display was especially tepid by the Socceroos. Australia might never have been expected to match Brazil tactically or technically, but there’s usually a certain amount of energy or positivity to be expected from our national team. Indeed, in recent years the side have had a good record against high profile opposition for that very reason.

But from the opening whistle, the Australians were gun shy, ragged and meek – and against a side with players who need no invitation, it made for very uncomfortable viewing for those looking through green and gold glasses.

We run the rule over the 6-0 loss.

GOALKEEPER – can we afford to have Schwarzer on Chelsea’s bench?

With raid after raid on goal, most would say there was little Mark Schwarzer could do. But former international colleague Bosnich added:

"He did look a bit off the pace in terms of feet movement and so forth.

"When you're not playing ... even if you're going to come play a game, you need a game beforehand to feel yourself right again.

"When you do come in against world class performers, you can see he's a little behind the eight-ball.

"That last one (Luis Gustavo’s stunning drive), the ball had pretty much hit the back of the net and he was still in the air."

Is it time to have a good look at Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan and co in the upcoming friendlies?

Verdict: FAIL

DEFENCE – Kossie: we need to find two new centre-backs, fast.

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Hello, Ryan McGowan. Meet Neymar. What a baptism of fire for the 24-year-old Shandong Luneng man, playing out of position against the Barcelona genius. It was an uncomfortable night for the entire back-four, who had to contend with wave after wave of Brazilian attack.

There were times Sasa Ognenovski and Lucas Neill were able to scramble, but more often than not, the back-four had the best seats in the house to watch as Bernard, Jo, Neymar and co turned the back-four around on a saunter downfield.

Life wasn’t made any easier for the side with two make-shift full-backs, either.

"We either need to find a couple of centre-backs or need to start playing with a sweeper," Kosmina said.

"If we go to Brazil playing like that next year, we’ll get a Germany result.

"They do a good job, Lucas and Sas. But the fact is they got exposed tonight. They got caught out of position.

"So they either need to spend a lot of time together to get a combination going, but it looked like there was no communication.

"They were spread too often; one was up, one was down. They weren’t deep enough, weren’t covering when they needed to be. They let Brazil in.

"They weren’t tight when they needed to be on the edge of the box.

"You look at David Luiz against Josh Kennedy – Kennedy never got a look in. Every time he was facing the wrong way and the ball was played into feet, they were on him. Bang. Our boys never got near Brazil."

Bosnich: "We’ve not got a recognised left-back playing at left-back. That will get exposed against the very best."

VERDICT: FAIL

MIDFIELD – like a firsts against reserves outing, as Brazil enjoyed 66 per cent possession, 63 per cent territory, with a 92 per cent pass accuracy.

The Socceroos’ tendency to start slowly was exacerbated in Brasilia with a cumbersome opening – the opening 10 minutes set the tone as the side retreated, chased shadows and then turned the ball over each time they got a sniff of it.

Brazil are renowned for their trickery and flair, but Luis Felipe Scolari’s side are also a machine – energetic and fit and they afforded the Socceroos no time on the ball at all. And the away side could not cope. If Tommy Oar and Robbie Kruse weren’t picking up the ball deep in our half, they were fruitlessly chasing long balls into channels.

Mile Jedinak made a couple of vital interceptions, but his distribution was not what it needed to be. Mark Bresciano worked hard, but in this midfield formation he is isolated, his pace is going to be exposed and the side is too reliant on him to spark the attack into gear.

VERDICT – FAIL

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UP FRONT – why not start Rogic and see what he can do?

It’s hard to provide much of an assessment given Osieck’s side managed just one shot off target from the 90 minutes.

Kennedy and Brett Holman were lethargic, out-muscled and failed to provide any sort of outlet to help release the pressure valve.

Kosmina asked: “Why did Tommy Rogic only come on for 15 minutes when it was done and dusted?

“Why not start him and find him out (what he’s got)?”

VERDICT – FAIL

OVERALL – Bosnich: this is a warning

"We play in Asia – it’s nothing compared to the inferno that is South American football," Kosmina said.

It's something all Socceroos fans probably feared but scheduling this type of match is going to brutally expose it.

Simply, the Socceroos were overawed, and that quickly turned to being outplayed in every department there is.

The formation was far too rigid and the players far too stretched to ever play out their way out of pressure.

Without the ball, Osieck's side were miles away from the play and rarely forced the Brazilians into making rushed decisions. Indeed, that is what is most disappointing. If anything, the Brazilians were the ones playing as if they had something to prove.

There will be also plenty of people questioning selections: why expose McGowan out of position at right back if you've drafted Rhys Williams into the squad? Why isolate Bresciano like that in midfield? Why not change things up at half-time, with a Rogic, for example, or James Holland or Mark Milligan in midfield for some quicker legs?

With friendly matches against France and Canada ahead, some quick decisions need to made. Can we see what these other players are made of? If it can't get any worse, do we need to start keeping the 2015 Asian Cup, here in Australia, in mind as much as Brazil next year?

Bosnich said: "What everyone has talked about for such a long time – we only had four out of the starting 11 that are starting with their club sides.

"Thankfully we’ve got a lot of time to think about how we’ll go about it in Brazil.

"We have to get to the final, minimum, of the Asian Cup.

"I believe whoever goes to the World Cup will find it very, very difficult to get it out of the first round.

"That (2015) has to be bared in the back of the mind when we’re thinking about the future."

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